Third-rail system.



No. 770,911. PATENTED SEPT. 27, 1904. L. M. LA BARR.

THIRD RAIL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22,1904.

NO MODEL.

III!

r I 4 x 1 N g Witnesses Httom NiTED STATES Patented September 27, 1904.

PATENT rricn.

THlRD- -R AlL SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 770,911, dated September 2'7, 1904.

Application filed June 22, 1904:. Serial No. 213,709. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it nuty concern.-

Be it known that I, LESLIE M. LA BARR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Forest City, in the county of Susquehanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Third-Rail System, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to third-rail electrical systems, and has for its principal object to provide a novel form of third rail in which danger of accidental contact with persons or animals will be reduced to a minimum.

A further object is to provide a third rail which shall be thoroughly protected from accumulations of snow, ice, and other foreign matter which might result in the grounding of the circuit or produce sparking between the car-carried contact and the rail.

\Vith these and other objects in View, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse sectional elevation of a portion of a third rail and its supports constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view through one of the railsupporting devices.

Similar characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The third rail 1 in the present instance is in the form of an ordinary railroad-rail, but is placed in inverted position with the head 1 of the rail down and the front or horizontal Web 2 uppermost. The lower surface of the head 1 is engaged by a shoe or brush cc, carried by the car, the construction of such shoe or brush being of the character ordinarily employed in third-rail or trolley systems.

To the outer side of the vertical web 3 of sage of moisture.

the rail are secured blocks 4, each formed of cast metal, these blocks beings bolted or otherwise secured to the rails at intervals and especially at the ends of adjoining sections,

where they take the place'of the fish-plates and serve also as bindingdevices for insuring good electrical connection between the sections of the rail. From each of the blocks 4 depends a standard or bolt 5, adapted to enter the upper portion of a split tube 6, having a foot-section 7, that is secured to the ties or other supports by spikes or other suitable securing means. The upper portion of the tube 6 is split, and within it is placed an insulating means 8 of any suitable character. The depending standard or bolt 5 is then inserted in the split tube and the members of the latter are drawn together and clamped firml y around the bolt by means of transversely-disposed bolts 9 or other suitable devices, the arrangement being such as to permit of, the ready adjustment of the vertical height of the rail in order that it may correspond to the trafiic rails on which the car runs. The metallic blocks A are placed at suitable intervals throughout the length of the rail, and between the blocks are arranged strips 10, preferably formed of wood, and the opposite or inner side of the rail is also protected by wooden strips 11, that extend continuously along the rail, and these wooden strips may be held in position by bolts, rivets, or other securing devices. The Wooden strips are of such width as to extend down to the extreme outer edges of the horizontal web or foot 2 of the rail, and as a result the conductor and its supports are practically rectangular in cross-section, forming a base for the reception of an inverted cupshaped shield or cover 12, which may be formed of terra-cotta or some similar nonconducting material that is preferably imporous, or painted, glazed, or otherwise protected in such manner as to prevent the pas- As an additionalprecaution the shield or cover 12 may be held in place by suitable bolts 13, extending upward from the base 7 and passing through eyes or loops 14, extending from the outer face of the shield.

With an arrangement of the character de- I00 scribed it is practically impossible for a person or animal to come into contact with a third rail, and at the same time the railis effectually shielded, particularly from accumulations of ice, dirt, or other matter, which result in constant sparking at the point of contact of the brush or shoe with the rail and which results in many cases in the burning out of the fuses on the car.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a third-rail system, a third rail, an adjustable support therefor, and an insulatingcover for the rail, said rail forming a support for the insulating-cover.

2. In a third-rail system, an inverted third rail, a telescopic support for the rail, means for locking such support in adjusted position, and an insulated covering for the rail.

3. In a third-rail system, an inverted third rail, blocks secured thereto, rods depending from the blocks, tubular supports for the rods, means for locking the rods and supports together,and an insulating-covering for the rail.

4:. In a third-rail system, an inverted third rail, metallic blocks secured to the rail at intervals, rods depending from said blocks, split tubes for the reception of the rods, said tubes having foot members for securing them to a supporting means, bolts forlocking the tubes to the rods, and insulating means arranged between said rods and tubes.

5. In a third-rail system, an inverted third rail, metallic blocks secured thereto at intervals, supporting means for the metallic blocks, wooden strips arranged on each side of the web of the rail, and an inverted trough-shaped shield partially embracing the strips and the rail.

6. In a third-rail system, an inverted third rail, metallic blocks secured thereto at intervals, supports for the blocks, strips of wood secured to the web of the rail at points between the blocks, Wooden strips secured to the opposite sides of the web of the rail, and an inverted trough-shaped shield formed of terra-cotta covering said rail and strips.

7. In a third-rail system, an inverted third rail, blocks secured thereto at intervals, a rectangular post or bolt depending from said block, a split tube corresponding in cross-section to the post or bolt, and provided with lugs at its meeting edges, and clamping-bolts passing through said lugs.

8. In a third-rail system, a third rail, blocks secured thereto at intervals, telescopic standards forming supports for the blocks, an insulating-cover for the rail, eyes or loops eX- tending from one side of the cover, and auxiliary posts extending through said eyes or loops and securing to hold the cover in place.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto alfixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LESLIE M. LA BARR.

WVitnesses:

JOSEPH MAYER, J. FREEDMAN. 

